When Robert Sterling was named the 2014 Vermont State Game Warden of the Year, it took some time for the honor to soak in.

But then, a woman he hadn’t heard from in many years called and left a congratulatory message on his answering machine.

“It brought tears to my eyes,” Sterling said. “I was amazed at the number of calls and messages — the feedback from the people in my district.”

The Fair Haven man has spent his entire 18-year career as a Department of Fish and Wildlife warden patrolling the highways and back roads of Fair Haven, West Haven, Castleton, Benson, Sudbury and Orwell.